| Ref No | Member | Question | Tabled | Status |
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AQW 44876/22-27
|
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
(SDLP - Foyle)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail when he will publish the summary of responses from the Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy.
+ Display Answer
| 27/04/2026 |
Answered on 07/05/2026
|
|
AQW 43246/22-27
|
Ms Cheryl Brownlee
(DUP - East Antrim)
|
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) any reason why the planned increase in the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme from 15 per cent to 20 per cent, as indicated in the Childcare Strategy, will not be implemented from 1 April 2026; and (ii) any financial, budgetary, or policy constraints that have led to this decision, given the impact on working families.
+ Display Answer
| 25/03/2026 |
Answered on 17/04/2026
|
|
AQW 42767/22-27
|
Ms Cara Hunter
(SDLP - East Londonderry)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) any steps he is taking to ensure that nursery schools are recognised as providing statutory early education, rather than simply childcare, in the Executive’s draft childcare strategy; (ii) how he plans to protect quality teacher-led provision in statutory nursery schools, including support for children with special educational needs; and (iii) how the strategy will ensure that expansion of childcare places does not undermine existing nursery education provision.
+ Display Answer
| 19/03/2026 |
Answered on 27/03/2026
|
|
AQW 42690/22-27
|
Mr Justin McNulty
(SDLP - Newry and Armagh)
|
To ask the Minister of Education, in relation to the draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy, to detail the rationale as to why the standardisation of pre-schools for students with special educational needs provision is taking place later than mainstream provision.
+ Display Answer
| 18/03/2026 |
Answered on 25/03/2026
|
|
AQW 42470/22-27
|
Mr Gerry Carroll
(PBPA - West Belfast)
|
To ask the Minister of Education whether the Toybox scheme will keep its exclusive focus on the specific developmental needs of Traveller, Roma and Newcomer children in the event of its expansion, as outlined in the draft Childcare Strategy.
+ Display Answer
| 13/03/2026 |
Answered on 18/03/2026
|
|
AQW 42469/22-27
|
Mr Gerry Carroll
(PBPA - West Belfast)
|
To ask the Minister of Education how the Strategic Childcare Investment Fund, referenced in the draft Childcare Strategy, will increase capacity and support for rural childcare providers.
+ Display Answer
| 13/03/2026 |
Answered on 30/03/2026
|
|
AQW 42374/22-27
|
Mr Gerry Carroll
(PBPA - West Belfast)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any consideration his Department has taken of people who work shifts in the development of the childcare strategy.
+ Display Answer
| 12/03/2026 |
Answered on 23/03/2026
|
|
AQW 41750/22-27
|
Mr Justin McNulty
(SDLP - Newry and Armagh)
|
To ask the Minister of Education whether the draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy will include a cap on private childcare fees for providers who accept government subsidies, to ensure that any funding for working families using the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme is not negated by price increases in childcare fees.
+ Display Answer
| 03/03/2026 |
Answered on 16/03/2026
|
|
AQW 40997/22-27
|
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
(SDLP - Foyle)
|
To ask the Minister of Education, in light of information contained within the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy, to detail the largest fee rise out of the 202 private day nursery providers, as a percentage rise.
[Priority Written]
+ Display Answer
| 19/02/2026 |
Answered on 24/02/2026
|
|
AQW 40836/22-27
|
Mrs Michelle Guy
(APNI - Lagan Valley)
|
To ask the Minister of Education, given that the draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy notes that consideration has been given to capping fees, to detail the level of scoping that was completed by his Department in respect of this.
+ Display Answer
| 17/02/2026 |
Answered on 24/02/2026
|
|
AQW 40695/22-27
|
Mr Justin McNulty
(SDLP - Newry and Armagh)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any plans he has to address the lack of detailed timelines in the draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy.
+ Display Answer
| 16/02/2026 |
Answered on 03/03/2026
|
|
AQO 3163/22-27
|
Mrs Cathy Mason
(SF - South Down)
|
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on his engagement with the childcare and early years sector following the release of the draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy.
+ Display Answer
| 12/02/2026 |
Answered on 23/02/2026
|
|
AQO 3156/22-27
|
Ms Kate Nicholl
(APNI - South Belfast)
|
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy.
+ Display Answer
| 12/02/2026 |
Answered on 23/02/2026
|
|
AQW 39871/22-27
|
Ms Claire Sugden
(IND - East Londonderry)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail how the Draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy will address situations where children who receive one-to-one support in school settings, do not receive equivalent support in early learning or childcare provisions.
+ Display Answer
| 05/02/2026 |
Answered on 23/02/2026
|
|
AQW 39772/22-27
|
Ms Claire Sugden
(IND - East Londonderry)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail how the Draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy seeks to balance improving affordability for families, with ensuring providers are able to operate on a financially sustainable basis.
+ Display Answer
| 04/02/2026 |
Answered on 23/02/2026
|
|
AQW 39771/22-27
|
Ms Claire Sugden
(IND - East Londonderry)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any specific measures, proposed within the Draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy, to address recruitment and retention challenges within the early years workforce.
+ Display Answer
| 04/02/2026 |
Answered on 23/02/2026
|
|
AQO 2891/22-27
|
Ms Kellie Armstrong
(APNI - Strangford)
|
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on the publication of the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy.
+ Display Answer
| 05/01/2026 |
Answered on 13/01/2026
|
|
AQW 37112/22-27
|
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
(SDLP - Foyle)
|
To ask the Minister of Education whether he has secured Executive agreement on the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy.
[Priority Written]
+ Display Answer
| 09/12/2025 |
Answered on 12/12/2025
|
|
AQW 36837/22-27
|
Mr Justin McNulty
(SDLP - Newry and Armagh)
|
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy.
+ Display Answer
| 04/12/2025 |
Answered on 12/12/2025
|
|
AQW 36549/22-27
|
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
(SDLP - Foyle)
|
To ask the Minister of Education whether he has secured Executive agreement on the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy.
+ Display Answer
| 01/12/2025 |
Answered on 04/12/2025
|
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